So, recently Mike Sterling at Progressive Ruin polled his readership about what they wanted more and less of in comics. (Since I'm about 700 posts behind on reading my Bloglines, I'm possibly a little late on referring to it.) One of his conclusions has to do with diminishing interest in big crossover events. (He says it better. You should read it.)
And you know, damn if he isn't right.
House of M came out. I read just about every book associated with it. Enjoyed most of them and didn't resent it much, although certainly I was glad when things returned to "normal." I did not pick up any non-House-of-M-specific titles that I don't already get.
Infinite Crisis came out. I wasn't reading much DC at the time so I was really unaware of it, but picked it up in a trade. Same with Villains United (enjoyed) and the other associated trades (did not enjoy so much).
Civil War came out. I read a number of the books associated with it. Enjoyed some, didn't enjoy others. Definitely looked forward to it being over. I did not pick up any non-Civil-War titles that I don't already get.
52 started, and I got them all. Entertaining, for the most part.
Countdown started, and I got the first four. Not entertaining and I dropped it.
The Initiative stuff started. I picked up one Initiative-specific title, otherwise only getting it when it's in my regular books. It's somewhat less intrusive than some other Events have been.
World War Hulk. Although the plot interests me somewhat, I'm not going to get any of it other than when it shows up in my regular books.
Apparently I have reached my limit.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
Got milk? (Potential spoiler content)
I don't have my copy of New Avengers 31 yet, and won't for several weeks, so all I know is from the spoilage of others. But.
The whole "is she or isn't she" Jessica Jones nursing thing.
Remember when Cage was almost arrested while buying milk? For the baby, IIRC (which I may not)? (Even though you don't give an infant cow's milk--if for whatever reason there's no human breast milk available, the baby should be given formula.) I read that, figured that the author just didn't know that particular baby fact. In any case, what it seemed to indicate was that Jessica was not nursing the baby.
But also! Remember in Captain America #26 when Jessica refers to herself as, quote-unquote, "a nursing mother." That phrase stuck in my mind because of the implication in the aforementioned issue of New Avengers that baby was bottle-fed, and the direct contradiction here.
And now, according to New Avengers 31 by way of the internet, it's apparently stated outright that Jess is not nursing. We know this because Wong asks her why she isn't, to which she quite appropriately gives him a dirty look.
Because there are plenty of reasons, other than being a Skrull, why a woman isn't nursing her baby. If your milk never came in, or if it did but not in amounts sufficient to nourish your child, you're feeling bad enough without some nosy bastard asking why you're not nursing. Wong always struck me as more polite than that, but I never read Dr. Strange so I could be mistaken there.
It occurs to me, though--what if Wong is only asking why she isn't nursing because, up until recently (as recently as Cap 26 and the secret wake), she had been nursing? Sure, there are plenty of reasons why a woman would have to stop nursing--hell, the stress of living on the run could set one's milk production back. But could this possibly be an indicator--if Jess or the baby is a Skrull--of when the change was made? A Skrull-disguised-as-a-woman couldn't produce human milk, presumably. And a Skrull-disguised-as-a-baby might refuse it.
Or am I overthinking what is probably just a slight error in continuity?
BTW, this is my post #200, go me!
The whole "is she or isn't she" Jessica Jones nursing thing.
Remember when Cage was almost arrested while buying milk? For the baby, IIRC (which I may not)? (Even though you don't give an infant cow's milk--if for whatever reason there's no human breast milk available, the baby should be given formula.) I read that, figured that the author just didn't know that particular baby fact. In any case, what it seemed to indicate was that Jessica was not nursing the baby.
But also! Remember in Captain America #26 when Jessica refers to herself as, quote-unquote, "a nursing mother." That phrase stuck in my mind because of the implication in the aforementioned issue of New Avengers that baby was bottle-fed, and the direct contradiction here.
And now, according to New Avengers 31 by way of the internet, it's apparently stated outright that Jess is not nursing. We know this because Wong asks her why she isn't, to which she quite appropriately gives him a dirty look.
Because there are plenty of reasons, other than being a Skrull, why a woman isn't nursing her baby. If your milk never came in, or if it did but not in amounts sufficient to nourish your child, you're feeling bad enough without some nosy bastard asking why you're not nursing. Wong always struck me as more polite than that, but I never read Dr. Strange so I could be mistaken there.
It occurs to me, though--what if Wong is only asking why she isn't nursing because, up until recently (as recently as Cap 26 and the secret wake), she had been nursing? Sure, there are plenty of reasons why a woman would have to stop nursing--hell, the stress of living on the run could set one's milk production back. But could this possibly be an indicator--if Jess or the baby is a Skrull--of when the change was made? A Skrull-disguised-as-a-woman couldn't produce human milk, presumably. And a Skrull-disguised-as-a-baby might refuse it.
Or am I overthinking what is probably just a slight error in continuity?
BTW, this is my post #200, go me!
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Reminiscing and wandering
How I got my comics when I was a kid:
Once a week, on Friday after school, my mom would bring my brother and me down to a newsstand in the next town over, the one with the best and most complete collection of comics in the area. (This was the 70s. "Complete" meant that they carried just about the whole Marvel and DC lines.) If you got there on a Friday, they had all of the week's magazines and comics in the back room, spread out on a table in stacks. Three inches of The Avengers, two and a half of Captain America, etc. We'd go in the back, make our selections, pay for them (we generally didn't buy the same titles, and we pretty much didn't read each other's just as a matter of personal taste), and that was it until the next week. I don't think I ever paid enough attention to comic schedules to know what was coming out on a given week, so there was always an element of surprise.
When we got home, I'd read my comics in reverse order of which were my favorites, saving the best for last (i.e. if it was an Avengers week, that'd be the last one read). I'd read each one cover to cover, including the letters page but probably not including all of Bullpen Bulletins until I got to the last comic. (That was the same in all the month's comics, after all.) And I was patient about it. I read slowly and carefully. I might not even finish reading all my purchases until the next day.
How I get my comics now:
First, I go online and peruse the listings for the comics that'll be coming out in a couple of months. I select those I want to get, searching to make sure I don't miss anything interesting, and I place my order. This is the point at which I have to decide which books I'm adding to or dropping from my "get list," and there are always a few titles whose status is up in the air, but for the most part I know what I want and I get it.
Then, once a month, usually near the very end or beginning, we get a box from our friendly not-so-neighborhood comic shop containing the comics I ordered several months earlier. I know what's coming, if I bother to check the order, which means sometimes. Assuming that I'm not in the middle of something, I open the box immediately, and read the ones I've most been looking forward to in a great big hurry. Usually that's three or four out of the total. I then read the rest, roughly in alphabetical order (since there will be three of us reading most of these, that makes it easier to keep track of who's read what). I'm not patient. I read them all, quickly, generally all in one day. Some I skim, some I read in more detail, but I read all of them. I'll then reread a number of them over the next week or two, particularly if I'm going to discuss them here. But the initial reading is done in a rush.
To me this seems counter-intuitive--you'd think that as an adult I'd be more likely to take my time, savoring each page, particularly since I know there won't be more for a month. Instead, I'm greedy about it now.
Maybe it's the monthly thing--that after an entire month without new comics, I'm so desperate for new material that I tear into it?
Maybe it's the sharing thing--that I try to get through them quickly because I know there are folks waiting in line for them?
Maybe it's just the time thing--that I just don't have the time now to be leisurely in my reading? (The husband is about two months behind on reading anything at all, so there might be some truth to this one.)
Maybe I'm just less patient now. That could happen, right? The internet doesn't help with this, by the way. It's possible that I've just lost some of my capacity for delayed gratification--used to be that if I wanted information on something and I didn't have a book on that subject in the house, I'd have to wait until the library opened. Now I just have to flip open the laptop, and I'm sure to be able to find something, right now this minute omg I can't wait until morning because it's driving me crazy and I have to know who played Morticia on the Addams family NOW! I don't even have to leave the house. Wait, that was a digression, wasn't it?
Oh, look, something shiny!
::walks away from computer::
Once a week, on Friday after school, my mom would bring my brother and me down to a newsstand in the next town over, the one with the best and most complete collection of comics in the area. (This was the 70s. "Complete" meant that they carried just about the whole Marvel and DC lines.) If you got there on a Friday, they had all of the week's magazines and comics in the back room, spread out on a table in stacks. Three inches of The Avengers, two and a half of Captain America, etc. We'd go in the back, make our selections, pay for them (we generally didn't buy the same titles, and we pretty much didn't read each other's just as a matter of personal taste), and that was it until the next week. I don't think I ever paid enough attention to comic schedules to know what was coming out on a given week, so there was always an element of surprise.
When we got home, I'd read my comics in reverse order of which were my favorites, saving the best for last (i.e. if it was an Avengers week, that'd be the last one read). I'd read each one cover to cover, including the letters page but probably not including all of Bullpen Bulletins until I got to the last comic. (That was the same in all the month's comics, after all.) And I was patient about it. I read slowly and carefully. I might not even finish reading all my purchases until the next day.
How I get my comics now:
First, I go online and peruse the listings for the comics that'll be coming out in a couple of months. I select those I want to get, searching to make sure I don't miss anything interesting, and I place my order. This is the point at which I have to decide which books I'm adding to or dropping from my "get list," and there are always a few titles whose status is up in the air, but for the most part I know what I want and I get it.
Then, once a month, usually near the very end or beginning, we get a box from our friendly not-so-neighborhood comic shop containing the comics I ordered several months earlier. I know what's coming, if I bother to check the order, which means sometimes. Assuming that I'm not in the middle of something, I open the box immediately, and read the ones I've most been looking forward to in a great big hurry. Usually that's three or four out of the total. I then read the rest, roughly in alphabetical order (since there will be three of us reading most of these, that makes it easier to keep track of who's read what). I'm not patient. I read them all, quickly, generally all in one day. Some I skim, some I read in more detail, but I read all of them. I'll then reread a number of them over the next week or two, particularly if I'm going to discuss them here. But the initial reading is done in a rush.
To me this seems counter-intuitive--you'd think that as an adult I'd be more likely to take my time, savoring each page, particularly since I know there won't be more for a month. Instead, I'm greedy about it now.
Maybe it's the monthly thing--that after an entire month without new comics, I'm so desperate for new material that I tear into it?
Maybe it's the sharing thing--that I try to get through them quickly because I know there are folks waiting in line for them?
Maybe it's just the time thing--that I just don't have the time now to be leisurely in my reading? (The husband is about two months behind on reading anything at all, so there might be some truth to this one.)
Maybe I'm just less patient now. That could happen, right? The internet doesn't help with this, by the way. It's possible that I've just lost some of my capacity for delayed gratification--used to be that if I wanted information on something and I didn't have a book on that subject in the house, I'd have to wait until the library opened. Now I just have to flip open the laptop, and I'm sure to be able to find something, right now this minute omg I can't wait until morning because it's driving me crazy and I have to know who played Morticia on the Addams family NOW! I don't even have to leave the house. Wait, that was a digression, wasn't it?
Oh, look, something shiny!
::walks away from computer::
Monday, June 11, 2007
The May '07 Comics, Quick and Dirty (Part 2) [Spoilers]
Cable and Deadpool #40
You know, I buy this book totally because of Deadpool. Around our house an issue with lots of Deadpool is a Good Issue, while a Cable-heavy issue is, well, not. And it's not just me and my antipathy toward X-elements introduced in the 90s*--no one here likes Cable. He's all right when combined with Deadpool--their interactions are wonderful. But. Deadpool can carry a story. Cable can't. So...okay story. Not enough Deadpool. Not enough Hydra Bob, for that matter.
* Okay, so maybe a little. I love Deadpool, can't stand Cable, and kind of resent having to read about the latter in order to get some of the former.
Mighty Avengers #3
So the eight-year-old was looking at this the other day, and she looked up and asked "Why is the Wasp's butt so big?" Why indeed? (What I answered: "Well, the artist just draws like that." And a little later she reported to me that I was right--all the butts in this book are pretty big. Heh.) Actually, I have no particular problems with the art here--the women may be extra-curvy but they're also built solid--but I was amused that my daughter, who has never read the comic internet, noticed this right off.
Other thoughts: Carol's response to having some of her authority taken by Natasha seemed in character, but won't if it lasts for long. Also, anyone else remember the last time Hank Pym hooked up with Tigra? West Coast Avengers? That one didn't work out so well, if I recall correctly.
Ms. Marvel #15
This book features one of the better warts-and-all portrayals of a superhero, and I'm enjoying it, but I'm predisposed to enjoy it given my history of liking Ms. M. Coming after Civil War, I do find that Carol's less-than-perfect moments stand out more than I think they would ordinarily. Things I particularly liked: that despite Tony's efforts, the SHIELD "corporate culture" is still there, and not necessarily welcoming to outsiders (Carol's own team seems fine with her, but they're not standard SHIELD agents). And, of course, MODOK, whose presence adds that extra something to any comic. I do hope they're able to fix what ails him.
New Avengers #30
First, I will be thrilled when the ninjas are gone. So on the whole not a favorite issue of mine. But I was awfully happy to see the return of Hawkeye, who has always been a favorite character. Hope he sticks around a while, and hope he's back to being Hawkeye again soon. Kate hasn't held that name for long enough that I really associate it with her, and I imagine that she'd be happy to give it back.
She-Hulk #18
In which Jennifer discovers just what Tony Stark and Friends did to her cousin Bruce. I particularly liked two things about this book. First, the addition of Agent Beefcake to Jen's team (albeit in her own absence), showing that SHIELD is an equal-opportunity exploiter of the baser impulses. Although I did note that his uniform covers a lot more skin than Agent Cheesecake's, and they're both LMDs and therefore neither needs the coverage, so I don't see the point there. And second, Jennifer's response when Tony permanently (well, we'll see) takes away her Hulk powers--she doesn't miss a beat, but jumps directly into lawyer mode. Poor Tony--he's got plenty of Marvel citizens after him right now, but Jennifer Walters in court is probably the biggest real threat he's facing!
You know, I buy this book totally because of Deadpool. Around our house an issue with lots of Deadpool is a Good Issue, while a Cable-heavy issue is, well, not. And it's not just me and my antipathy toward X-elements introduced in the 90s*--no one here likes Cable. He's all right when combined with Deadpool--their interactions are wonderful. But. Deadpool can carry a story. Cable can't. So...okay story. Not enough Deadpool. Not enough Hydra Bob, for that matter.
* Okay, so maybe a little. I love Deadpool, can't stand Cable, and kind of resent having to read about the latter in order to get some of the former.
Mighty Avengers #3
So the eight-year-old was looking at this the other day, and she looked up and asked "Why is the Wasp's butt so big?" Why indeed? (What I answered: "Well, the artist just draws like that." And a little later she reported to me that I was right--all the butts in this book are pretty big. Heh.) Actually, I have no particular problems with the art here--the women may be extra-curvy but they're also built solid--but I was amused that my daughter, who has never read the comic internet, noticed this right off.
Other thoughts: Carol's response to having some of her authority taken by Natasha seemed in character, but won't if it lasts for long. Also, anyone else remember the last time Hank Pym hooked up with Tigra? West Coast Avengers? That one didn't work out so well, if I recall correctly.
Ms. Marvel #15
This book features one of the better warts-and-all portrayals of a superhero, and I'm enjoying it, but I'm predisposed to enjoy it given my history of liking Ms. M. Coming after Civil War, I do find that Carol's less-than-perfect moments stand out more than I think they would ordinarily. Things I particularly liked: that despite Tony's efforts, the SHIELD "corporate culture" is still there, and not necessarily welcoming to outsiders (Carol's own team seems fine with her, but they're not standard SHIELD agents). And, of course, MODOK, whose presence adds that extra something to any comic. I do hope they're able to fix what ails him.
New Avengers #30
First, I will be thrilled when the ninjas are gone. So on the whole not a favorite issue of mine. But I was awfully happy to see the return of Hawkeye, who has always been a favorite character. Hope he sticks around a while, and hope he's back to being Hawkeye again soon. Kate hasn't held that name for long enough that I really associate it with her, and I imagine that she'd be happy to give it back.
She-Hulk #18
In which Jennifer discovers just what Tony Stark and Friends did to her cousin Bruce. I particularly liked two things about this book. First, the addition of Agent Beefcake to Jen's team (albeit in her own absence), showing that SHIELD is an equal-opportunity exploiter of the baser impulses. Although I did note that his uniform covers a lot more skin than Agent Cheesecake's, and they're both LMDs and therefore neither needs the coverage, so I don't see the point there. And second, Jennifer's response when Tony permanently (well, we'll see) takes away her Hulk powers--she doesn't miss a beat, but jumps directly into lawyer mode. Poor Tony--he's got plenty of Marvel citizens after him right now, but Jennifer Walters in court is probably the biggest real threat he's facing!
Saturday, June 02, 2007
The May '07 Comics, Quick and Dirty (Part 1) [Spoilers]
All-New Atom #11
For such a smart guy, that Ryan is an idiot when it comes to women. And it's not that he doesn't see through a lot of her dishonesty--he just doesn't want to. Jia is not a fun character, and not someone I'm interested in seeing returning--one more stereotypical man-trap, we don't need.
Captain America #26
I hope this is the way that Captain America-without-Captain-America will be continuing, because I can live with this easy. While Sharon was well done (I still think it wasn't actually her that shot Cap), and while Winter Soldier struck a tricky balance between emo and bad-ass, it was really Falcon who shone. It's going to be a long month, waiting for #27.
Iron Man #17
Easily the most sympathetic portrayal of Tony Stark in Marvel today, and he still comes across as kind of shady, although he seems to be losing some of the ends-justify-the-means vibe. However, since his refusal to consider using Extremis under any circumstances is based on his personal experience, I don't think it's evidence of any change in his sense that he knows what's best for everyone. I do think that his taking Maya Hansen as a lover in order to keep an eye on her, even if that's only a part of the reason, is going to bite him in the ass eventually.
Irredeemable Ant-Man #8
Great fun, as always. Ant-Man (sensibly not wanting to use the name "Ant Man") chooses the Worst Hero Name Ever, starts to learn the ropes of both herodom and villainy, and finds the woman of his dreams--one who is possibly an even bigger jerk than he is.
Omega Flight #2 of 5
Off the get list despite being a mini. I just can't muster up much interest, despite the presence of US Agent, potentially although not generally in practice a fairly complex character. Then again I'm in a list-trimming mood lately.
The Spirit #6
Still a keeper but it hasn't grown on me quite as much as I'd hoped, which is a shame because I really do like the Spirit as a concept, remember sitting in the car reading his book as a kid and all that. Someone (and I'm sorry I don't remember who) mentioned that this story reminded them of the old Spirit stories, most of which did not feature the Spirit himself but used him as a central focus to tie a story around. That's pretty accurate, and in fact might be a better way for the book to go, although I'm not sure the modern comic market has the interest in books that aren't character-centered.
For such a smart guy, that Ryan is an idiot when it comes to women. And it's not that he doesn't see through a lot of her dishonesty--he just doesn't want to. Jia is not a fun character, and not someone I'm interested in seeing returning--one more stereotypical man-trap, we don't need.
Captain America #26
I hope this is the way that Captain America-without-Captain-America will be continuing, because I can live with this easy. While Sharon was well done (I still think it wasn't actually her that shot Cap), and while Winter Soldier struck a tricky balance between emo and bad-ass, it was really Falcon who shone. It's going to be a long month, waiting for #27.
Iron Man #17
Easily the most sympathetic portrayal of Tony Stark in Marvel today, and he still comes across as kind of shady, although he seems to be losing some of the ends-justify-the-means vibe. However, since his refusal to consider using Extremis under any circumstances is based on his personal experience, I don't think it's evidence of any change in his sense that he knows what's best for everyone. I do think that his taking Maya Hansen as a lover in order to keep an eye on her, even if that's only a part of the reason, is going to bite him in the ass eventually.
Irredeemable Ant-Man #8
Great fun, as always. Ant-Man (sensibly not wanting to use the name "Ant Man") chooses the Worst Hero Name Ever, starts to learn the ropes of both herodom and villainy, and finds the woman of his dreams--one who is possibly an even bigger jerk than he is.
Omega Flight #2 of 5
Off the get list despite being a mini. I just can't muster up much interest, despite the presence of US Agent, potentially although not generally in practice a fairly complex character. Then again I'm in a list-trimming mood lately.
The Spirit #6
Still a keeper but it hasn't grown on me quite as much as I'd hoped, which is a shame because I really do like the Spirit as a concept, remember sitting in the car reading his book as a kid and all that. Someone (and I'm sorry I don't remember who) mentioned that this story reminded them of the old Spirit stories, most of which did not feature the Spirit himself but used him as a central focus to tie a story around. That's pretty accurate, and in fact might be a better way for the book to go, although I'm not sure the modern comic market has the interest in books that aren't character-centered.
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